The October 19, 2009 meeting of the Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County Board of Directors started in a fashion unprecedented in the organization’s 15 year history. While this activity was something new for the Board, it took us on a wonderful trip down memory lane. In October of 1996, Habitat met with the family of Ghezia and Abeba Habtemicael to officially close on their new home at 519 W. 2nd Street in Ottawa. The Habtemicael family had lived in Ottawa for 14 years, coming to our community as a refugee family from war-torn Eritrea, Africa through the efforts of the United Methodist Church. They came to the US as a family of 6 with just 3 suitcases of belongings. Their children at the time were 20, 16, 12, and 4.

The Habtemicaels were chosen as the newly-formed Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County’s first partner family. Through the efforts of church and community members, and the sweat equity of the family, their 3 bedroom, 1 bath home with a carport was constructed with love. After closing, the Habtemicaels repaid an interest-free, no-profit mortgage over a period of 13 years. In the early years of the loan, the family took out a second mortgage to improve upon the home again with the addition of a garage. They never missed a payment and, in fact, made every payment ahead of schedule. The last few months they paid more than double the monthly amount to retire the mortgage ahead of schedule.

Habitat for Humanity thanks God for the Habtemicael family and their diligence in making their house a home and in successfully doing what many of us may never accomplish by completely paying off their mortgage. They are a testament to themselves and the entire community, as well as a shining example for other Habitat for Humanity families.

This poem was written for the Habtemicael family by Habitat Board Member Kay Pederson.

Habtemicael Mortgage Burning Ceremony

This is the loan for the house that Ghezai & Abeba built.
Go ahead, drive by 519 W. 2nd Street and look around.
It’s quality from the roof to the ground.
They even added a garage without any guilt.

You see, Ghezai had a dream.
They were refugees from Ethiopia-
But this family did not suffer from myopia.
Ghezai applied to Habitat where they put together a team.

Ghezai and Abeba worked hard to qualify.
Their patience and dedication were unswerving.
The Habtemicaels were very deserving!
They refused to hear the word “disqualify”.

Yes, this house is their home.
Oh, you bet they had help, their family and many a friend.
The entire community worked to this end.
No longer would this family roam.

So, Ghezai and Abeba, at your mortgage burning ceremony,
We salute you–a model Habitat partner! That’s our testimony!